Bhubaneswar, Oct 17: The Odisha government has decided to set up a panel to scrutinise and shortlist proposed sites for setting up the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in the state. The panel is likely to be headed by the Odisha chief secretary and would have officials of the state employment, technical education and training, sources said.

The decision to constitute a panel to shortlist the IIM locations was taken as several proposals and demands were received by the state government from various quarters for setting up the premier institute at various cities of Odisha, revealed sources.

Earlier, the Union Ministry of human resource development had asked the Odisha government to identify two or three suitable locations where 200 acres of land can be provided free of cost and free from all encumbrances and the place should have good road, rail and air connectivity, sources added.